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During the opening horse run, when riders fill the arena, announcer Andy Seiler said to the crowd if anyone was going to be injured at Cracker Day it would be during the horse run. Seiler no sooner finished his words when a rider fell, injuring her neck. The arena was cleared for paramedics.

The rider, Sara, who asked that her last name be withheld, was taken by stretcher to the grandstand area. A family member said Sara is an experienced rider and the horse's bridle broke, causing her to fall. Sara said she will be back to ride again next year. She was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, according to Alethea Turner, president of the Volusia County Cattlewomen's Association.

The rodeo continued with the money grab, a contest where anyone older than 18 can compete for money by entering the arena and pulling a ribbon off a steer's horn. An unidentified woman, running with roughly 35 entrants, was injured when the steer turned, striking her arm with its horn. As the woman fell to the ground, the steer rammed its head into her body and stomped its feet around her until it was distracted from her by men on horses.

As the steer spun around again, a man shielding the woman was kicked in the head by the steer. The man was standing and talking after the incident, and was immediately attended to by paramedics on site, then transported to Halifax Health. The woman was treated by paramedics in the arena and transported by stretcher to an ambulance. She, too, was taken to Halifax Health, Turner said. Their conditions were not available.

Turner said the three injuries were a first for Cracker Day.

“We take extra precautions and we have paramedics on staff in case this happens,” said Turner.

The rest of the day played on without incident, as thousands enjoyed bull riding, barrel racing and calf roping, along with delicious barbecue and kids' games like pig catch and boot scramble.

<p>DELAND -- A day of roping and riding and rodeo fun had some worry mixed in, too, when three people were injured Saturday in the opening events of the 64th annual Cracker Day in DeLand. </p><p> During the opening horse run, when riders fill the arena, announcer Andy Seiler said to the crowd if anyone was going to be injured at Cracker Day it would be during the horse run. Seiler no sooner finished his words when a rider fell, injuring her neck. The arena was cleared for paramedics. </p><p> The rider, Sara, who asked that her last name be withheld, was taken by stretcher to the grandstand area. A family member said Sara is an experienced rider and the horse's bridle broke, causing her to fall. Sara said she will be back to ride again next year. She was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, according to Alethea Turner, president of the Volusia County Cattlewomen's Association. </p><p> The rodeo continued with the money grab, a contest where anyone older than 18 can compete for money by entering the arena and pulling a ribbon off a steer's horn. An unidentified woman, running with roughly 35 entrants, was injured when the steer turned, striking her arm with its horn. As the woman fell to the ground, the steer rammed its head into her body and stomped its feet around her until it was distracted from her by men on horses. </p><p> As the steer spun around again, a man shielding the woman was kicked in the head by the steer. The man was standing and talking after the incident, and was immediately attended to by paramedics on site, then transported to Halifax Health. The woman was treated by paramedics in the arena and transported by stretcher to an ambulance. She, too, was taken to Halifax Health, Turner said. Their conditions were not available. </p><p> Turner said the three injuries were a first for Cracker Day. </p><p> “We take extra precautions and we have paramedics on staff in case this happens,” said Turner. </p><p> The rest of the day played on without incident, as thousands enjoyed bull riding, barrel racing and calf roping, along with delicious barbecue and kids' games like pig catch and boot scramble.</p>